Guardian Vs. Hybrid

Myths and Believing

        I yawned as I took a seat for a moment to clear my head. My head pounded with all the things I couldn’t escape, and with a sigh I went to get up. Then something caught my attention, and without looking I sent a crescent ring flying towards the darkness. With a huff, I watched someone cut through it like it was air. I shot off towards whoever it was with a fist full of pure unbridled energy, aiming right for the hidden person. My fist slammed into the ground as whoever it was rolled out of the way at the last second. I ground my teeth as I leaned out of the way of a throwing knife, grabbing it out of the air and using the momentum to send it back at the person who threw it. As the knife soared through the air, I followed behind it, hoping to hit whoever decided to stalk me. I let out a growl as the person drew a sward to swing at me. Luckily, I was just far enough away that all they hit was air. 

                Without another thought, I twisted and dipped down, landing a solid kick to the persons torso. As they stumbled back a few feet, I took the advantage to turn and land another spartan kick to the dead center of the person’s chest. They fell backwards, but never really hit the ground as they rolled to get back up to their feet.

                “Who are you, and why are you trespassing on the Queen’s castle grounds?” I demanded, glaring the person down. Hoping they would turn and run, knowing I was going to be far too strong for them.

                The person finally stepped out into the light, making me stiffen. The man before me was none other than Rex Larow. A powerful Lyrid Energy User who fought along-side the Kin-Wolves and now resides in a home outside Ros-Titan. He now has short white blond hair with dark yellow eyes, and is considered a Lyrid because his grandfather was a pure-blooded Kin-Wolf. So, his blood was not pure like mine. Several years ago, I saw him a few times, but after growing bored I dropped him like a sack of bricks and moved on. That was the last time I had seen him, at least until now.

                “It’s been a while hasn’t it, Rosabell?” Rex said as he leaned his sward against his shoulder. “You’re looking mighty fine too. Your hair is much longer now.”

                I rolled my eyes. “What do you want, Rex? If it’s not something important for the Queen or Princess, then you need to leave.”

                He smiled. “What if I have news?”

                “News of what?” I asked, my hand opened to expose bright green misting off my hand as if I was holding dry ice. “It better be some truly special news, Rex. I’m not having the best of days.”

                “It is, my sweet Bell. It’s something about your lineage. I finally convinced King Solvang to let me into his extensive records, and you can’t imagine what I found in there.” Rex said as he opened his arms out wide. “So, do you want to hear what I have to say? Or are you going to kick me out?”

                I had no idea whether to trust Rex or not, but if he came all this way to tell me something, maybe it was worth listening to?

                 “You remember the old stories the Chancellor used to tell us back in Advent City? That there used to be royal Energy Users that ruled over Advent and its people? But long ago they disappeared after King Solvang attempted to abduct their daughter, a powerful princess to have as his bride when she turned of-age. The King and Queen of Advent vanished, taking their precious daughter and the last of the Energy User royal blood with them.” Rex said running the back off his finger down my arm.

        I shrugged him off and shook my head. “So what? Everyone knows that story, Rex. What’s so important that you had to come all this way to tell me?”

        Rex smiled while he circled around me. “What no one knows, that’s what I came to tell you. I found the royal lineage of the Energy Users. Well, most of it.”

        I raised an eyebrow. “Really? Why is it that I don’t believe you?”

        “I found the body of King Tilde, and it was confirmed by the Chancellor that it is really him. All I have left is to find the body of Queen Severan, since I already know where the princess is. I found a picture of her on the King’s body. Then the royal line will be back in Stian, in Advent, and they will be able to obtain new royalty with help from the princess.” Rex said with a wink.

        “I see where this is going.” I said with a huff. “You’re working for the Chancellor, and he hopes to be crowned the new King after finding the bodies of the royal lineage. Let me guess, he’s going to appoint you something high up on the totem pole?”

        Rex laughed. “Quite perceptive, but your slightly off. The current Chancellor will be appointed as Chief Advisor to the royal princess, a very high position in the governing of Advent City and Stian. While I will be the new Chancellor, and with that position I will be able to take any woman I desire as a wife.”

        At that I laughed. “Your delusional, Rex. All that heat from the war scrambled your mind.”

        “Don’t be so quick to doubt me, my lady. The wife of the current Chancellor was married to a man out in the country before the Chancellor saw her in the city market. So, if he was able to force an already married woman to be his wife than I’m sure I can have any woman I want. A soldier, a princess, anyone.” Rex said as he smiled maliciously.

        I rolled my eyes. “Again, why was this news so important that you had to come trespass on the Queens grounds to tell me.”

        “Isn’t it obvious, my lady?” Rex questioned, putting out his hand. “I want to make you my wife after I become the new Chancellor. Together we would help rule over Advent and Stian, and you can leave this exerting life as a Halo Elite behind. I understand as an orphan you had no choice but to become a swords woman, but I can give you a true purpose as my wife. You can become a gentlewoman and live a calm life.”

        Getting irritated, I snorted. “And what? Become your house wench? Cook you lavish meals and wash your dirty laundry? I don’t think so. I am a soldier. I will never be that docile wife you wish for that bends to your will. My family is my men that serve under me and my loyalty to the royal family of Ja-kkar and to King Virote. Move on with your life, Rex. Oh, and get off my Queens property before I arrest you.”

        “You can deny me all you want, but when I’m Chancellor you will have no choice but to submit. Even if you are a royal princess.” He said as he reached forward to touch my cheek.

        Shock enveloped me, and I glanced up to him with a confused expression over my beautiful face. Without warning a hand shot out to grab Rex’s wrist, keeping him an inch away from my skin. When I glanced over, Prince Zohar stood menacingly, glaring down the smaller Rex.

        “Please refrain from touching Lady Rosabell, you might lose a hand.” He said as Rex yanked his hand out of Zohar’s

        Rex’s eyes narrowed taking a step back. “Hello, Prince Zohar. It’s good to see you…well.”

        Zohar smiled. “I’m sure it is. Now, did you come all this way to tell my corporal that you were going to force her into marriage? I realize it may be out of line to say this, but isn’t that the opposite of what most marriages are based on?”

        I nodded, trying to get over what Rex had said a moment ago. “Yes, Lord General. I do believe that is right. I’m sorry, Rex. I will never marry you.”

        Rex ground his teeth while looking me right in the eyes. “And why not?”

        “Because if Rose marries any man in this world, it’s going to be me.” Zohar said with a completely straight face, not one spec of any kind of joke.

        “Lord General!” I gasped, red spread across my cheeks without my permission. As a man who was already engaged, this was not something he should be telling people. Especially, someone like Rex.

        Zohar shrugged. “It’s the truth, and that you know to be true.”

        Rex huffed his irritation as he started his retreat. “Just remember what I said earlier, Rosabell.”

        With that said he made himself disappear into the dark of the night. Leaving me and Zohar to ourselves. When I was sure Rex was gone, I turned to look over my shoulder at Zo. Watching him smiling up to the starry sky, deep in thought.

        “What is it, Lord General?” I asked, moving to be in front of him.

        He glanced down at me and smiled unlike I had ever seen before on his handsome face. “When it’s just us, please just call me by my name. I think we’re well past the point of being formal. Don’t you think, my lady?”

        I nodded. “Yes, I think so too. What you said to me earlier. I said that to you on the day of your Turning. Do you remember your Haze?”

        Zohar took my hand in his and gently kissed the backs of my fingers. “It took me a little while, but I do.”

        I watched as he let my hand go. This wasn’t the Zohar I remembered, and I was sure this was the real him. Now that the Haze is far over, this was the person left. “Good, you should at the very least remember. I have to keep on my patrol. I’ll see you in the morning, Zo.”

        “You’re not leaving me that quick.” He said placing himself in front of me, reaching forward to tip my head up. “Is what that man said true? You’re royalty?”

        I rolled my eyes. “I doubt it. I’m an orphan, that’s why I became a soldier. When the war happened, all able-bodied orphans were forced to fight. I was just more adapted to the violence than most of the others, but I don’t think I’m some kind of royal princess of Advent City. That’s just a stupid attempt to scare me into marrying Rex.”

        He examined my face as if he was trying to find something on it. “Who are your parents?”

        “I don’t know. I don’t know anything before the orphanage.” I said while my heart was right there in my throat.

        Zohar smirked. “So, you could be? What about that, Rose? Tell me something. Royal princess or not, if it was possible, would you accept my marriage proposal? Because right now, in this moment, I am proposing to you. It’s a true proposal. Would you come back with me as my wife and rule over the same army you were in with me?”

        I bit my bottom lip hard, enough to make it bleed. I didn’t even get to answer before Zohar closed the distance between us and pressed his lips to mine, drawing blood out through the wound gently. My blood was an addiction he would never be able to kick. I was his first, and that was something he could never recreate with anyone in the world. My whole body tensed as I felt his arms circle around me, wrapping me up in his warm embrace. When he pulled away, he was able to see how red my face had become.

        “Do I have a choice?” I watched him lick his lips clean of my blood, making my whole body shiver in reaction. I didn’t want to admit how much I was enjoying this, enjoying his affection.

        “Of course. I will never force you like I did by then.” He nodded, running a hand through my hair. “Just remember one thing for me. Forever. That was not said on a whim. I will spend the rest of my existence trying to make up for what I did to you back then. To me, there is no one else. Just you.”

        The moment Zohar said that, my choice was as clear as spring water. “Don’t get your hopes up, Zo. I don’t trust Rex in the slightest, and for all we know he’s just saying things to make himself look like he has more power than he really does. My Dark Prince, we both know how this is going to end.”

        The look in his eyes made me tilt my head to the side in confusion. With the confidence of an entire army, he smiled as he touched the side of my face gently. “The man may not have power, but I do. If there is anything true to what he said, then I will find it out and change this terrible fate of ours. One way or the other.”

        “Zo, I have to continue my patrol. Maybe what Rex said was true, but for now it still doesn’t change anything. But to answer your proposal I would…I…accept it. Goodnight, Zo.” I ducked my head down and started to walk off, only stopping when Zohar laughed a little.

        He locked his hands behind his head and looked to the night sky. “If you are not royalty, Rose, I will marry you as long as you’ll have me one day. I let you go out of my life once, but I won’t allow it to happen so easily a second time.”

        Hearing the serious tone in his voice along with the name he used to call me made me shudder. With everything he was, he believed in his words, and now…I believed them too.